MCPS Foundation Launches Dine With Dignity Campaign

The Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation launched the Dine with Dignity Campaign Oct. 29 to raise awareness and funds in support of preserving student dignity in the lunchroom.

Last year in MCPS, 34,000 traditional school lunches were exchanged for alternative meals and given to students who did not qualify for the free lunch program and whose lunch account balances were negative $10 or more. The alternative meal identified the students to their peers as not having money to buy lunch, increasing the potential for the students’ embarrassment.

In response, the Foundation created a fund to help the district settle unpaid lunch balances and to allow students with negative account balances to enjoy traditional lunch choices. Families are still asked to pay off, or to contribute within their means, toward the outstanding balance on their student’s lunch account; the Dine with Dignity Fund pays the remainder.

To raise awareness about this special childhood hunger issue and awareness about the campaign, the Foundation enlisted help from Starbucks and now through December 2, messages about the Dine with Dignity campaign will be on coffeehouse tables and condiment bars in 46 Montgomery County Starbucks locations. Learn more and donate today at www.mcpsfoundation.org/dine206.